Friday 7 December 2007

Winchester - A Cathederal City

Winchester was originally the capital of Wessex – a large part of Anglo Saxon England and subsequently became England's ancient capital and former throne of King Alfred the Great.

Winchester is located just a few miles north of Southampton – 20 minutes by train and just 1 hour by train to London. The city is easily accessible by road via the M3 and M27 motorways. There are many nearby beauty spots and the New Forest is less than 30 minutes travelling time.

The city is ‘full of’ history with many old buildings – not least of which is the eleventh century cathedral and for the Great Hall which for over 600 years has housed the mysterious Round Table. Winchester College is thought to be the oldest continuously running school in the country (during the spring term, the boys play a unique version of football, Winkies - shorthand for Winchester College Football).

The village of Hambledon, just outside of Winchester, is the birthplace of cricket. At Broadha'penny Down a cricket club was formed in the 1760s and this is where the rules of the game as it is known throughout the world today were first established. The Bat and Ball pub has stood opposite the cricket ground since the club was formed and has a wealth of memorabilia.

The Hospital of St Cross - a medieval almshouse - still offers the Wayfarer's Dole to travellers as it has done for more than eight centuries.

Saint Swithun was the Bishop of Winchester and is remembered with a modern memorial in the cathedral. According to legend however, the saint's remains were moved against his dying wishes from their final resting place in the grounds of the cathedral to the inner sanctum, whereupon it proceeded to rain for 40 days as a sign of his displeasure. Now, if it rains on the saint's day – the 15th July it is said to be the start of 40 days of rain.

Winchester is a truly great centre for shopping, theatre ‘goers’, historic visitors and more.

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